Graduation ceremonies

You don't need to apply to graduate. You’ll receive a graduation eligibility letter from the Graduation Office in mid-June for Winter graduations and mid-October for December graduations. This will confirm your potential eligibility to graduate, subject to completing any last course requirements and payment of outstanding fees. You can also find your graduation information in eStudent.

Find out more about eligibility (student portal).

You can’t defer your graduation, but you don’t have to attend your ceremony if you don’t wish to.

If you don’t come to your ceremony, you’ll graduate in absentia. Your documents will be sent to you by Registered Post (within Australia) or EMS Courier (overseas) after the conclusion of the graduation round. If your documents are being sent to a non-Australian address, please allow extra time for delivery.

You’ll receive a digital testamur, academic transcript and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS). These documents will be available in My eQuals, and you will receive an email in the days following graduation to let you know when you can view these documents, as well as instructions on how to register with the My eQuals website.

You can always attend a ceremony in the future if you decide later. Refer to 'Can I attend a future ceremony instead?' below.

If you’ve already registered and no longer wish to attend, you can update your order online via the link in your registration confirmation email. Your registration will then be cancelled and you will be issued a refund.

If you decide you want to attend, and it’s still within the registration period, you can go ahead and register.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept late registrations. If you don’t register by the close date (or earlier if a ceremony reaches capacity), you’ll have to wait until a future round of graduation ceremonies.

You can always attend a ceremony in the future if you decide later. This is called ‘attending as a walk-through’, which is the same as everyone else except you won’t receive a testamur and transcript, because you already have them.

Your name will appear in the graduation program of the earlier ceremony, and you’ll be presented with a 'blank' certificate. This allows you to have your degree conferred at the appropriate time, while still having the opportunity to participate in a ceremony at a time convenient to you.

Please contact graduation@utas.edu.au to be included in the current graduation round.

• While we do not make academic dress compulsory, we would prefer all those participating in the ceremony to wear it. The academic dress set includes a gown, a mortar board or bonnet, and a hood and/or stole.
• Our graduation ceremonies are a formal occasion, and students and guests are encouraged to dress appropriately. As a general guide, think of what would be suitable for a special dinner or a job interview.
• The colours associated with academic dress generally distinguish the college you belong to (or, in some cases, the discipline within a college). You’ll be provided with the correct dress for your award as per our Academic Dress Guide PDF 138.1 KB. Please note that academic dress not sourced through our preferred supplier may not provide you with regalia that is an exact match.
• If you are receiving a diploma or certificate, and you already have a degree, you should wear the appropriate academic dress for the highest degree you’ve been awarded.
• If you’re receiving a double degree, and are graduating for both degrees in one ceremony, you’ll only need to place one order.
• Our academic dress is patterned on that used at the University of Oxford.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are invited to wear a coloured scarf to celebrate their cultural heritage, supplied by the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Aboriginal Leadership.

• When you register to attend your ceremony, you will be able to hire your academic dress from the University's preferred supplier.
• Payment is required at the time of booking academic dress.
• Academic dress hire prices vary depending on your requirements - as a general rule:
  • Full set:  $90 includes gown, hood/stole & mortarboard
  • Doctor of Philosophy full set: $90 includes gown, hood & bonnet
  • Hood/stole only:  $30

• May Hobart ceremonies
  Mon 2 May
  1.00pm-3.00pm (1pm ceremony collections)
  3.00pm-5.00pm (4pm ceremony collections)
  Grand Ballroom, upper level of the hotel
  Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, 1 Davey Street

• If you're unable to make the designated collection time for your ceremony, someone can collect on your behalf provided they have your order confirmation. Alternatively, you can collect your academic dress from 11am on the day of your graduation. Please arrive early to allow plenty of time to collect prior to your ceremony.
• Please return your academic dress no later than two hours after your ceremony concludes, unless you've made prior arrangements with our gown hire provider.
• Failure to return academic dress on time may incur a charge equivalent to the purchase price of the regalia. Purchase price is three times the hire price.

• Academic dress is worn over your normal attire. 
  • Please note that what you’re wearing underneath will be visible. For this reason, business attire and comfortable shoes are highly recommended. The gowns are quite heavy, so you may want to remove any jackets.
  • Gown: The gown is worn over the top of your clothing like a jacket. Undergraduates’ arms go through the sleeve, while postgraduate students’ arms slide through an opening in the sleeve.
  • Hood: For all degrees, the hood is then placed over the top of your gown and worn with the colour hanging down the back of the gown and the V at the front of your neck.
  • Mortarboard: The Mortarboard is worn with the shallow part to the front of your head and the deep part at the back of the head, with the tassel placed on the left (over your left ear).
• If you’re confused about your academic dress, don’t worry. Staff will be there to help you.

When you place your order online, you’ll have the option to select your size, based on your height. You’ll be fitted for the correct size when you pick up your academic dress.

• Physical or social distancing continues to be the strongest safeguard to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Government protocols recommends a safe distance of no less than 1.5 metres between yourself and others.
• To meet current guidelines, a two square metres per person rule will apply at all venues, in accordance with the maximum density limit.

• The wearing of masks in venues is not currently mandated in Tasmania. However, the latest information is available at Tasmanian Government - Coronavirus. Visitors to our graduation venue may choose to continue wearing masks in settings where social distancing is not possible, but it is not mandatory.

• Please check the latest information on restrictions on domestic travel at the time of the event available at Tasmanian Government - Coronavirus.

• No, it is not compulsory to wear a mask in this setting. So bring your best smile!

• Yes, graduation ceremonies are general admission, so guests will not have allocated seats. It’s best to arrive early to get the position you want.

Email U.Connect@utas.edu.au so that we can organise your refund after the graduation round. Your graduation documents will be posted out to you in January. Please make sure your preferred postal address is updated in eStudent as soon as possible. You can also attend a future graduation ceremony.